His attention was caught by something that Brewer said and when he turned back to the room he saw Gisburne approach Annys. Giving him a haughty glare she turned her back on the young knight, cutting him off in mid-sentence. De Chambray smiled approvingly and noted Gisburne's red face as he looked about to see if anyone had noticed the snub. Annys had received her fair share of attention from the men here tonight and, as he watched her politely back away from another young man, he turned his thoughts to a marriage for her. These were uncertain times and a man must be careful of his alliances.
The King touched his arm. "Is that your ward?" he asked, his eyes bright with interest as they watched yet another young man bow over Annys' hand. "She looks a mettlesome piece! What do you think Brewer?"
The King's Treasurer smiled salaciously. "Can't say I blame you William, for keeping her hidden away."
De Chambray sighed and nodded, the matter of marriage becoming more urgent as the King's eyes took on a lustful glint. If Annys caught the King's attention then she must be married to prevent the scandal of a child. A King's bastard was still a bastard born, unless a well paid man could be persuaded to give the cuckoo a name.
He sat up, suddenly alert. Gisburne was making his way to the food tables at the same time as Huntingdon. For a moment he thought that they would pass each other, then Huntingdon put out a hand that stopped the younger man in his tracks. Their voices carried across to the dais.
"Guy," began the Earl and then faltered. At the touch on his sleeve, Gisburne lifted his head and de Chambray saw the surprise on his face.
"My Lord?"
David of Huntingdon regarded the knight with his steady blue gaze. "You no longer work for de Rainault, I hear."
"You hear correctly, my Lord," Gisburne answered, coolly.
Huntingdon nodded. "I hope this precipitates a good turn in your fortunes. If you have any need..." The Earl faltered again and de Chambray found his surprise mirroring Gisburne's own. He had never seen the Earl struggle with his words before.
"If there is something I could do to help you on your way, let me know." The Earl let his eyes rest on Gisburne's face for a long moment as if searching for something there and de Chambray wondered why the knight did not accept the Earl's offer.
David detached himself and moved away and as Gisburne turned, de Chambray saw the reason he had not answered; the young man's face was a picture of shock and bewilderment. Whatever the Earl's reasons for paying the ransom it seemed Gisburne was unaware of them.
Hearing de Rainault's name mentioned he turned his attention back to the King, to find Brewer addressing him.
"Have you heard about this wolfshead hunt, William? Everyone has been talking about it."
"What's that?" de Chambray asked, eyeing the Treasurer's corpulent face and struggling to hide his dislike of the man.
"De Rainault has set a bounty on the head of the outlaw, Robin Hood. Anyone can claim the prize for one hundred marks."
John gave a short laugh. "The cheek of that man! All the way through his trial he tried to persuade me that the outlaw was dead. And that steward of his also." His eyes scanned the room for Gisburne, but failed to find him.
"What a wonderful notion, my Lord King," de Chambray said hurriedly. "To hunt a stag is a noble past time, but the piquancy of putting hounds on a man's trail - quite delightful."
John drew his eyes back from the room to rest on the Duke. "It has a novel ring to it," he murmured. "What do you think Brewer? Shall we uproot the court and travel down to Clipstone?"
Brewer nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "An excellent idea, my Liege. We have been at Newark long enough."
The King passed his tongue over his lips as if the savouring the idea. "Yes. And we'll stop in at Nottingham on the way, stir up that old hornet de Rainault. You must come with us, William, bring as many young hunters as you can find. The more the merrier, as they say."
"I will begin preparations immediately, my Liege." Bowing, de Chambray rose from his chair. He set off through the crowd to find Gisburne, wondering if the King had any idea of the logistics involved in moving his nomadic court around the country. However, returning to Gisburne's place of recent employment might shed more light on the man himself and that fitted his plan perfectly. Spotting the Knight, head and shoulders above the rest of the rabble, he stretched his mouth into a smile and pushed his way through.